I have no idea if the women I had lunch with today are representative of anything, but they were not part of the University and they thought that this ad was very effective and described it to me in some detail. Having now found it on the Internet, I'm surprised — it seems a little heavy-handed to me. But based on this unscientific sample, one target audience seems to love it…
Recent Bluessky Posts- FL Bar says it erred: "no such pending Bar investigation of Lindsey Halligan...The Florida Bar received a complaint against Lindsey Halligan and, consistent with standard practice, the Bar is monitoring the ongoing legal proceedings underlying the complaint.” news.bloomberglaw.com/product/blaw... March 6, 2026 Michael Froomkin
- Jotwell Legal Profession: Rebecca Roiphe, Be Careful What You Wish For: How Conservative Groups Learned from Liberal Cause Lawyers, JOTWELL (March 6, 2026), legalpro.jotwell.com/be-careful-w.... March 6, 2026 Jotwell
- The Florida process for resolving bar complaints is very slow unless dismissed immediately, so don't hold your breath for the results in this bar complaint against Lindsey Halligan. www.nytimes.com/2026/03/05/u... March 5, 2026 Michael Froomkin
- I would love to see this data disaggregated by US state. Not surprised though to see French people have a lower view of each other than the rest of Western Europe. Although whether that is due to suspicious natures or sus behavior is less obvious. March 5, 2026 Michael Froomkin
- excellent deep dive into all of the ways that the Trump administration has used the federal budget to keep punishing critics and trying to bend them to his will. FWIW, this is precisely how Viktor Orban crushed the opposition in Hungary 15 years ago. The national budget is a powerful weapon. March 5, 2026 Kim Lane Scheppele
I think the ad is very effective. It’s succinct and makes it point well.
I found it somewhat manipulative but I can see how a soccer mom type would love it.
I thought the ball and chain was a bit much. But the issue of long-term national debt needs to be emphasized, and this ad gets that point across well enough.
I think this is a great ad…in many ways, even more effective than Move-on’s winning add (Child’s Play?”)
the ad gives you a few seconds to watch the child before the narration begins…the child’s actions do not change noticeably, so the audience’s attention becomes focussed on the narration. The narrator details the costs of the Iraq war, and you hear that. Then there is cut to the ball and chain….and although the narration continues, what the observer focusses on is the large black object in the foreground. At this point, the effect of the narration is practically subliminal, as the screen returns to the face of the child, this time distraught.
The last shot “Misleader” superimposed over a picture of Bush, is not terribly effective, and to some extent harms the ads effectiveness by emphasizing the politic nature of the ad itself.